FRS stands for "FUN but REALLY SLOW"
 

I'm gonna start by saying that I've owned a Integra GS-R, 06 WRX, 370Z and now and 2011 GTI...(yes I change cars often)
so my next target was the FRS/BRZ so after 3 years following this car and reading so many great reviews I finally got to test drive an FRS.

sadly it was an automatic but at least I got to compare the transmission to my DSG on the GTI.

first thing was that the seats are great! maybe better than my GTI's (autobahn package) and that's a lot to say.
the engine doesn't sound ANYTHING like the typical boxer engine in my WRX which i think is sad but I'm sure it's due to the equal length headers.

The suspension is very nice, firm but not harsh which feels just like the 370Z. The steering wheel response is great, just like that on the 370z.

The tires on that car are meant to slide! you can easily spin the tires even without trying so I'm sure this car would be a lot of fun when drifting around the track.

The tranmission is surprisingly similar to the DSG on my GTI, for a few momments there I forgot I wasn't driving my car so that's plus.
I still think that buying this car with an auto tranny is a SIN and you should be ashamed for buying such car.

now the bad part is that the car has NO BALLS what so ever, my completely stock Integra GSR felt faster than that car.
I wasn't expecting any power out of the FRS but I wasn't expecting it
to feel that underwhelming.

conclusion for me is that I'm keeping my GTI. I'm sure the FRS is a great track car but I don't think you'll get much fun out on the real world without driving wrecklessly (fast turns and stuff).

Eventhough the GTI and this car have the same power the GTI feels 10X faster (thanks to the torque given by the turbo).
I've learn that I prefer a car that feel faster than one that IS faster but feels slower.

For the money of a brand new FRS I would recommend getting a used 370Z ANY DAY there is nothing this car does better than the nissan specially at the track and the 370z does come with balls.

So this is my totally subjective opinion and I honestly don't care if anyone agrees or not. I just thought it would be nice review based on my experience living with all the other cars that in some way or another relate to this car.

So can we expect you to go back to the 370Z forums?

I think you missed this part
"I honestly don't care if anyone agrees or not"

You should post this on a miata board as well. The people buying this car are aware that it is slow, don't need every other person with a learners permit to tell us.

:search:

I think your review was fine. It wasn't like you bashed the whole car.

"Fun but really slow"

I dont see the problem.

I think there are about to be a lot of people in C Stock that are going to disagree with the slow part.

Now, now. Just take this as a grain of salt and don't need to get upset.

It's his opinion & he's entitle for it. Same as me saying GTI is heavy, slow and it need turbo to roll around, it understeer like crazy and chassis moves like family sedan car. It's just a simply an opinion, agree or not isn't necessary.

Anyways, thanks for the review. I'm pretty sure some GTI, wrx, Z owner will enjoy this review. Cuz I'm pretty sure they need someone that have same background of cars to give them some idea of what to expect from this car.

And we don't care about your opinion either. Close thread maybe now?

Cool, its your opinion and thats great that you didn't end up choosing something you would of been unhappy with but after I read this I just don't care for reading the rest

Quote:

Originally Posted by subatoy (Post 289086) I've learn that I prefer a car that feel faster than one that IS faster but feels slower.

faster car is not wanted cause it doesn't feel fast... did you ever think its because its not only faster but way more stable? Personally I noticed this when I switch from driving my FRS to other cars they feel faster cause they aren't as planted to the ground.

I love my FRS only downside to it right now other than premo gas is that fun factor goes down when more bodies get added to the car but hey the aftermarket will fix that. Rather have a really well design chassis then a powerhouse engine but just my opinion

Agreed.
I can't comment on said slowness as I haven't had it past 4000 rpm yet, but what I feel so far isn't promising. Either way, I knew going in that the car wasn't going to be a powerhouse, so I don't really care. That's what my Mustang is for.

Sorry, but he's entitle for his opinion and won't close it just cuz he didn't like it.

I'm guessing you drove the orange FR-S at World Toyota off of Peachtree Industrial? I was in that one last week.

Not sure why some people would get offended. If everybody thinks the FT86 is the greatest, whats the point to build other cars? He is perfectly welcome to have his own opinion. Maybe he would like the car better if it were a manual?

I will get the car because I LIKE IT not because of power, I know that is not a powerhouse but I really don't care, people should really get over it. i f they want more power and want the car, well like every other said, spend more money on the aftermarket

Trust me, there's a lot more power beyond that 4000 RPM limit. I was honestly surprised by how much there was, as I was a good boy and followed the break-in period like I was supposed to too.

:thanks:

FRS = For Retired Seniors

LOL jk....I really appreciate OPs opinion and they are very valid IMO. FRS/BRZ is not the "end of all sports cars" and ultimately wont please everyone.

This part is definitely something that sets many of us apart when choosing a car. I found that a fast car that feels slow (from my perspective) is a well setup and balanced vehicle. The goal for many racers is being comfortable with a specific level of speed and setting up a vehicle that caters to the drivers driving style. To a car that feels fast (especially when its not fast) means that my body doesn't jive well with the characteristics of a vehicle.

I'd hate to bring this example up....but in Initial D....(oh god here it comes)....early in the first season when Takumi is going full throttle into a corner with a passenger. Takumi is yawning and putting his arm up on the door cards nonchalantly, while experiencing very high G forces and speeds, while his passenger is freaking out.

So how can someone be so calm and composed in that situation? Because Takumi has a balanced machine that caters to his driving style, and is comfortable at high speeds. And in my experience this comfortability kinda leads to a sort of dull moment.

I would like to say this. Yes, the engine sounds normal for one with equal length headers. Also, I came from an STi, much faster than the FR-S. The FR-S has left me with a bigger grin than my STi did and that is not driving recklessly. Downshift twice and it gets the job done needed to pass cars at highway speeds. Don't see why something faster is really needed on the road. If you think the track is where it shines then that is where the power doesn't matter as much as the car makes up for it. Not to mention the aftermarket.

I used to own a GSR and got to test drive an FR-S last Sun so I can see where you are going with this. The Integra had a rev happy engine and aside from the FWD, the Type R was the voted best FWD. I'm sure some of the characteristics from the DC were taken into account when designing the FR-S. The FR-S is a bit heavier and doesn't wind up or redline like a Honda engine.

The FR-S isn't meant to be a fast car, it's meant to be a fun, well balanced car. There are still some minor things that I dislike about the car but once you realize that car isn't supposed to be a "Genesis coupe-370z-GTI-GSR-G37-WRX" killer then you'll have realize that this actually a fun car to drive.

.. It IS slow (ish). Will beat most econ cars like Civic/Focus/Corolla/Elantra which is fast enough for me driving around town.

It's basically a brand new 944/Mk2 Supra with airbags and a warranty. And 30 mpg.

If we all liked the exact same thing, cars would be pretty boring.

And here's where you crossed the line between it being a real review of the car and just an insult to a decent percentage of folks here.

As one of the ashamed sinners, I believe this added nothing to your review of the car. Then again, I don't feel I committed a sin, nor am I ashamed so I guess you are entitled to your narrow minded opinion.

I've owned an S2000, a Lotus Elise, a Lotus Exige S, and a Mazdaspeed 3. I'm just as excited about taking delivery of the FS-R in July as I was about the Exige S. Didn't even consider a 370z. Different strokes, but I find it ugly.

One could make the same argument about why anyone would buy a GTI over an MS3--it has no balls! There's much more to a car than its 0-60.

The SMILE man... the smile.

I just couldn't get it out of my head when looking at the MS3. I would also consider the GTI to be more refined.

Exactly!

Also, who cares if not everyone is a fan? More for us, right? Granted the car is still very new, and therefore you don't see too many on the road yet because of that, but I like having a "rare" car. Mustangs are "me too" cars (what do you drive? Mustang? Me too! lol) and I cringe every time I drive by the local Chevy dealership and look at the rows and rows of unsold Camaros. A car that goes from delivery truck, to showroom (not sitting on a lot), to new owner in an average of 4-5 days is something special. You can't deny that.

subatoy did you try any of the other "sport" modes you could switch between? I'm just curious because everyone brings up the auto having no balls until you switch to one of the other computer modes.

I looked at a few used 370z cars and the hold up for me was insurance, it was double what I pay for the FR-S. Awesome cars though.

No reason to get upset about the man's opinion..

0 to 60 in 6.2 secs is not slow...its faster than a GTI. Sure if may seam slow to you but the FR-S will blow away a GTI on a track or even on the road. Plus the FR-S looks somewhat exotic, something a GTI will never be.

Automatic is geared slower than the manual.

Fun > fast.

I found my E92 M3 stick more fun than my R35

Agreed.....

Title should be Fun & Really Sideways

hahaha i had a good laugh

S30 (240Z) = 2355lbs
S130 (240ZX) = 2824/2989 lbs
Z31 (300ZX) = 2888-3027lbs
Z32 (300ZX) = 3186-3602lbs
Z33 (350Z) = 3186-3602lbs
Z34 (370Z) = 3232lbs

I personally feel the Z's are too heavy and don't properly use the space they have (it's a 'big' car, yet still a roadster and that heavy). Also, why not keep the inline-6 like the first-gen Z-cars? While the VQ-motors make decent power and all, I'd think it would be better for balance. Even the lightest 370Zs are a good 500-600lbs more than the FRS/BRZ, and the 350Zs can be upwards of an entire 1000 lbs heavier.

If you were to add another 40-50hp to the FRS/BRZ, I'm willing to bet it'd take the Z on the track (if it doesn't already) and possibly even in a straight line for how light it is and the better chassis.

Also, the 350Z (and 370Z) are based on the G35+37/FX35+45 chassis which is just meh in my opinion and probably why it's so damn heavy.

Well, I sure as heck wouldn't want a used 350/370Z over an FR-S. That car is noticeably bigger, heavier, doesn't have a back seat, felt uncomfortable to me, and the transmission was clunky.

I've always been a bit concerned about the power but on my test drives, I was pretty satisfied. I'd still like to see the power band improved a bit though. My new hope/desire for this engine is individual throttle bodies for the 2014 model year. Aww yeah.

But everyone is different. Some people just want more power and don't mind having a larger, heavier car for it.

Subatoy is it partly to do with the power delivery being too flat?
I once drove an RX8 and while it had more power than my Celica it felt so boring revving it out, the power curve was just too linear.
Would have been awesome if the FRS had D4S and Lift.

Not to mention that the car is poorly designed and built. I have 3 friends who have owned 350s and 370s, and they all would never consider buying one again. Numerous complaints of rattles and poor build quality, as well as the horrible transmission and the fact that they all burnt a ton of oil, regularly.

Yes, moar fun please.

Has anyone even bothered to check the 370z specs on size before saying how it is bigger? Its very close to the FRS.

Think they more so meant it looks fatter and rounder as well as being much heavier.

Im happy for the OP to express their opinion and give some criticism. Its not like he totally bashed the crap outta it in a totally ignorant and offensive way, just take it with a grain of salt as others have said.

I too wish this car had LIFT and revved and sounded like a honda. There's also the concern of not how much power it has but more so getting rid of that torque dip. But hopefully the aftermarket will fix all that and im confident that the aftermarket and RnD that will go into this car will be ginormous. This car isnt meant to be perfect out of the box, its more of a blank canvas for you to paint on.